The Carotenoids of Flexibacteria. II. A New Xanthophyll from Saprospira grandis.

Abstract

The major pigment of Saprospira grandis Gross is a new xanthophyll, here designated saproxanthin. Saproxanthin exhibits physical and chemical properties in agreement with its being a 1[image], 2[image]-dihydro-3[image],4[image]-dehydro-3,l[image]-dihydroxy-y-carotene (III). A partial synthesis of dehydrated saproxanthin acetate (V) has been carried out by N-bromosuccinimide dehydrogenation of rubixanthin acetate (VII). The two acetates (V) as well as the corresponding mono-ols (VIII) appeared to be identical.